Light emitting device and electronic apparatus
Provided is an electronic apparatus including: a camera, which picks up an image of a subject, arranged in a main body of the apparatus; a first light source which emits first light in conjunction with a flash of the camera; a second light source which emits second light for indicating status regarding various functions; a single lens arranged toward a light-outgoing side of the first and second light sources; and a housing portion which, as well as supporting the lens, houses the first and second light sources.
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1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a light emitting device and to an electronic apparatus, and more specifically relates to a light emitting device provided with a plurality of light sources and to an electronic apparatus provided with the light emitting device.
2. Description of the Related Art
Electronic apparatuses such as a mobile terminal in recent years indicate call arrival as well as including built-in cameras provided with a flashing function. For this purpose, in the above mobile terminal, a light source for flashing and a light source for call arrival are arranged at a plurality of locations. On the other hand, for mobile electronic apparatuses, miniaturization and cost reduction are also highly demanded.
Since the light sources for flashing and for call arrival have respectively different purposes, it is preferable to prepare the light sources suited for the respective purposes and to arrange them at locations suited for the respective purposes. FIGS. 10 to 13 are views showing a mobile terminal in which the above light sources are arranged at plural locations.
As shown in
As shown in
In the example in
Meanwhile, among the conventional mobile terminals, there have been proposed a type having a light source which serves as the above light sources for both call arrival and flashing (refer to Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2003-333155). For example, in an invention according to Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2003-333155, light emitting diodes of R (red), G (green) and B (Blue) are employed as a light source.
Incidentally, purposes are different between the light sources for call arrival and for flashing. Therefore, light volume, light colors, light emitting positions, irradiation angles and the like are different therebetween. In the invention according to Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2003-333155 or the like, it is hence required to adjust the light strength and the like with respect to each purpose.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONIn view of the foregoing and other exemplary problems, drawbacks, and disadvantages of the conventional structures, an exemplary feature of the present invention is to provide a light-emitting device and an electronic apparatus which provide a plurality of light sources with a simple structure.
In order to achieve the above exemplary feature of the present invention, there is provided a light emitting device, including: a first light source which emits first light, a second light source which emits second light, a single lens arranged toward a light-outgoing side of the first and second light sources, and a housing portion which, as well as supporting the lens, houses the first and second light sources.
In order to achieve the above exemplary feature of the present invention, there is provided an electronic apparatus, including: a camera which picks up an image of a subject, arranged in a main body of the apparatus, a first light source which emits first light in conjunction with a flash of the camera, a second light source which emits second light for indicating status regarding various functions, a single lens arranged toward a light-outgoing side of the first and second light sources, and a housing portion which, as well as supporting the lens, houses the first and second light sources.
In order to achieve the above exemplary feature of the present invention, there is provided an electronic apparatus, including: a first housing provided with a camera which picks up an image of a subject, a second housing attached to the first housing through an open/close unit, a first light source which emits first light in conjunction with a flash of the camera, a second light source which emits second light for indicating status regarding various functions, a single lens arranged toward a light-outgoing side of the first and the second light sources, and a housing portion which, as well as supporting the lens, houses the first and the second light sources.
According to the present invention, the housing portion supports a single lens arranged toward a light-outgoing side of a first light source and a second light source, and houses the first and the second light sources. Therefore, it becomes possible to provide a plurality of light sources with a simple structure.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGSIn the accompanying drawings:
Hereinafter, based on FIGS. 1 to 6, a mobile terminal 10 with a built-in camera of a foldable type will be explained as an electronic apparatus of a first preferred exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
(Structure of the Mobile Terminal)
As shown in
As shown in
Moreover, the camera unit 22 and the light source unit 15 are arranged on a centerline L1 (see
As shown in
The second light source 17 is an LED for status indication with respect to various functions, that is, for example, an LED for call arrival notifying a user that communication is received. For this LED, one whose light volume is smaller than that of the white light emitting diode is employed, the one being, for example, a blue light emitting diode or an LED with the three colors R (red), G (green) and B (Blue). Note that, to each of the light sources 16 and 17, any member other than an LED can be applied as long as the member emits light having a predetermined light volume.
Moreover, the first light source 16 is larger than the second light source 17, and as shown in
As shown in
On a relatively upper portion (a section relatively apart from the circuit substrate 18) of the inner peripheral surface of the housing frame 19, a groove 19A is formed in a manner that it follows a direction of a periphery of the housing frame 19. Note that, as shown in
A lens 30 is provided with a round lens portion 30A and a flange 30B. The flange 30B is formed from an outer periphery of the lens 30 toward an outward direction thereof. Here, the lens 30 is supported on the housing frame 19 by fitting the flange 30B of the lens 30 into the groove 19A of the housing frame 19. Note that the lens 30 is molded of a material capable of evenly guiding light, examples of which include a opalescent material and a material containing a diffusing agent.
As shown in
Moreover, in a state where the lens 30 is fit into a hole 14B of the second case 14, the step portion 30C faces to a periphery (blocking portion) of the second case 14, the periphery defining the hole 14B. Consequently, a transmitting region of the lens 30 corresponding to the light sources 16 and 17 is only the lens portion 30A, and does not include the step portion 30C. On the other hand, as shown in
Note that, as shown in
(Effects of the Exemplary Embodiment)
First, based on
Additionally, in this exemplary embodiment, since the second light source 17 is arranged in order that light from the second light source 17 can directly go out toward the lens portion 30A (transmitting region) of the lens 30, light from the second light source 17 can be efficiently illuminated toward the lens portion 30A.
Specifically, light from the second light source 17 is diagonally directed so as to head for a lens surface 30D of the lens portion 30A, and is directly transmitted through the lens portion 30A. Consequently, light emission of the second light source 17 is easily recognized visually, for example, even from a curved-surface edge portion in the second case 14. For example, even when the mobile terminal 10 is held in an pocket or the like (not shown) in a state where the mobile terminal 10 is folded and where its side including hinge faces an opening of the pocket or the like, light from the second light source 17 can be directly irradiated to the lens portion 30A, whereby visual recognition of the light emission becomes favorable.
Note that, in this exemplary embodiment, by arranging the step portion 30C in a manner making it overlapped with a peripheral wall 14C of the second case 14, the second light source 17 is not directly viewed through the step portion 30C facing the second light source 17. Consequently, the second light source 17 during light emission is not viewed directly through the step portion 30C of the lens 30, and therefore does not appear just like a so-called eye ball.
Next, based on
When a light emitting surface 16A of the first light source 16 emits light, light from the first light source 16 arranged on an optical axis common with the lens portion 30A is efficiently guided toward the lens portion 30A by means of the housing frame 19. Therefore, light from the first light source 16 directly irradiates a subject (target object).
According to the exemplary embodiment, by providing the housing frame 19, the plurality of light sources 16 and 17 can be provided with a simple structure. The housing frame 19 supports a single lens 30 arranged toward a light-outgoing side of the first and second light sources 16 and 17, and houses the first and second light sources 16 and 17.
Additionally, in a case where the mobile terminal 10 is held in a manner that the light source unit 15 is positioned above the camera unit 22, even when a so-called “shadow (of a subject)” is imaged, for example, on a wall behind the subject, a picked-up image is not unnatural because the above shadow appears in a downward direction.
Note that, in the exemplary embodiment, the second light source 17 may be allowed to emit light in various irradiation patterns (for example, various time intervals, various emitted colors, or the like) to display accumulation of unread mails or the like, reception of a recorded message, a conversation status, a battery status and the like. Additionally, in a case where the first light source 16 emits light insufficiently in light volume, the second light source 17 may be allowed to emit light in addition to the first light source 16. On the other hand, the first light source 16 may be allowed to emit light in place of the first light source 17.
Second Exemplary Embodiment In
As shown in
In the present invention, it is possible to illuminate, through one lens 30, the first light source 16 for flashing and the second light source 17 (17A or 17B) for indicating status regarding various functions. Consequently, as compared to, for example, the conventional case shown in
In
Note that, in the lens 30 in the above exemplary embodiments, instead of providing the step portion 30C, a member (a tape, for example) for blocking light may be affixed to a section facing the second light source 17. Other structures, and other operation effects regarding the light source unit 15 and the camera unit 22 are the same as those of the first exemplary embodiment, and detailed descriptions thereof will be omitted.
Additionally, combined patterns in the present invention may be patterns obtained by combining two examples, or two or more examples, among the above respective exemplary embodiments or modified examples thereof. Furthermore, an electric apparatus according to the present invention is a notion including, in addition to a mobile terminal as shown in each of the above exemplary embodiments, a personal computer, personal digital assistants (PDAs) and the like.
Further, it is noted that the inventor's intent is to retain all equivalents of the claimed invention even if the claims are amended during prosecution.
Claims
1. A light emitting device, comprising:
- a first light source which emits first light;
- a second light source which emits second light;
- a single lens arranged toward a light-outgoing side of the first and second light sources; and
- a housing portion which, as well as supporting the lens, houses the first and second light sources.
2. The light emitting device according to claim 1,
- wherein a light-blocking portion whereby light can be blocked for the lens is arranged, and
- wherein the light-blocking portion is set facing the second light source.
3. The light emitting device according to claim 2,
- wherein, with a step portion provided on the lens, a member of the light-blocking portion is arranged in a manner that it overlaps the step portion of the lens.
4. The light emitting device according to claim 1,
- wherein the first light source is provided as a white light emitting diode, and
- wherein the second light source is provided as a light emitting diode whose light volume is different from a light volume of the white light emitting diode.
5. The light emitting device according to claim 2,
- wherein the second light source is arranged in order that light from the second light source can go out directly to a transmitting region of the lens.
6. The light emitting device according to claim 2,
- where in a light emitting surface of the first light source is arranged nearer to a transmitting region of the lens than a light emitting surface of the second light source.
7. An electronic apparatus, comprising:
- a camera, which picks up an image of a subject, arranged in a main body of the apparatus;
- a first light source which emits first light in conjunction with a flash of the camera;
- a second light source which emits second light for indicating status regarding various functions;
- a single lens arranged toward a light-outgoing side of the first and second light sources; and
- a housing portion which, as well as supporting the lens, houses the first and second light sources.
8. The electronic apparatus according to claim 7,
- wherein the first light source is provided as a white light emitting diode, and
- wherein the second light source is provided as a light emitting diode whose light volume is smaller than a light volume of the white light emitting diode.
9. The electronic apparatus according to claim 7,
- wherein the lens and the camera are arranged in order to bring about a state where, when the main body of the apparatus is held, the lens is positioned above the camera.
10. The electronic apparatus according to claim 7,
- wherein a light-blocking portion whereby light is blocked for the lens is arranged, and
- wherein the light-blocking portion is set facing the second light source.
11. The electronic apparatus according to claim 10,
- wherein, with a step portion provided on the lens, a member of the light-blocking portion is arranged in a manner that the member of the light-blocking portion overlaps the step portion of the lens.
12. The electronic apparatus according to claim 10,
- wherein the second light source is arranged in order that light from the second light source goes out directly to a transmitting region of the lens.
13. The electronic apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the second light source is arranged in order that light from the second light source goes out toward an edge portion of the main body of the apparatus.
14. A electronic apparatus, comprising:
- a first housing provided with a camera which picks up an image of a subject;
- a second housing attached to the first housing through an open/close means;
- a first light source which emits first light in conjunction with a flash of the camera;
- a second light source which emits second light for indicating status regarding various functions;
- a single lens arranged toward a light-outgoing side of the first and the second light sources; and
- a housing portion which, as well as supporting the lens, houses the first and the second light sources.
15. The electronic apparatus according to claim 14,
- wherein a light-blocking portion whereby light is blocked for the lens is arranged, and
- wherein the light-blocking portion is set facing the second light source.
16. The electronic apparatus according to claim 15,
- wherein, with a step portion provided on the lens, a member of the light-blocking portion is arranged in a manner that the member of the light-blocking portion overlaps the step portion of the lens.
17. The electronic apparatus according to claim 15,
- wherein the second light source is arranged in order that light from the second light source goes out directly to a transmitting region of the lens.
18. The electronic apparatus according to claim 15,
- wherein the second light source is arranged in order that light from the second light source goes out toward an edge portion of the main body of the first housing.
19. The electronic apparatus according to claim 14,
- wherein the first light source is provided as a white light emitting diode which emits light when the camera picks up an image, and
- wherein the second light source is provides as a light emitting diode whose light volume is smaller than a light volume of the white light emitting diode.
20. The electronic apparatus according to claim 14,
- wherein the lens is arranged in order that, when the main body of the apparatus is held, a state can be such that the lens is positioned above the camera.
Type: Application
Filed: Sep 12, 2005
Publication Date: Apr 13, 2006
Patent Grant number: 7195362
Applicant:
Inventor: Keiichirou Kumagai (Tokyo)
Application Number: 11/222,740
International Classification: G03B 15/02 (20060101); F21V 1/00 (20060101);